Sex, Relationships, and MORE!
So I have been quite busy the past few weeks. I went to a Disciple Training School (DTS) Network Meeting, where we talked about DTS and bounced ideas off each other alongside getting some great teaching about Sexual Identity. We also got a LOT of new staff on base. We have a thing called At-Home Days. We all stop working and just worship, have community together, eat food, and just come together as The Oval and party.
So the DTS Network Meeting was at YWAM The King's Lodge (http://thekingslodge.com/). It was a fantastic base and many other UK YWAM bases were there as well. I got to see a lot of old friends, meet new friends, and strengthen the relationships between YWAM bases. The first night was just a social night and get to know each other night. The next couple of days we had someone talk about sexual identity. It was fantastic. We talked about all sorts of things. How do you react if someone wants to share something with you while you mentor and disciple people? What things does the Bible say about sex? homosexuality? masturbation? sex outside of marriage? etc. It was very informative and very refreshing to hear Christians talk about sex and not feel embarrassed or ashamed. I mean, didn't God kind of, like, invent sex? So why is it taboo to talk about or mention in the church? Also why are we encouraged to share if I struggle with lying, or being judgmental yet when we bring up lust, sex, pornography, masturbation, we are told "hush" dont bring that up. If we hide it, it disappears right? RIGHT?! Noooot really. So I encourage everyone reading this to talk to one another when you struggle with these things. There is no shame in admitting you need help somewhere. I have struggled with pornography, lust, and masturbation my whole life. I mean. I have been single for 23 years. Of course I'm frustrated. Yet growing up my whole life I felt as if I couldn't talk to people about it. I felt as if there was something wrong with me because it looked like NO ONE else struggled with this since it wasn't talked about. There wasn't sermons on it. We didn't go over it at youth group or during devotionals. It wasn't until recently I realized most guys have struggled with this or still do. And the more we talk about it and confess/confide in one another, the more likely other people will be to say when they are struggling.
The September DTS starts up soon. Hurrah! We have gotten quite a few new staff for that school, along with a lot of other random staff for the base. I have a new flat mate! Andrew, from Georgia. It has been really cool to get to know him and show him English culture since he has never been to England, or Europe even! (Just like a certain sister I have, although she has been to Mexico and I haven't) There are some new DTS staff, IT staff, Kitchen staff, and just a lot more people. I love it. Maybe it is because I'm an extrovert. Maybe because I just love people. I have had multiple people tell me recently that they immediately felt like "part of the family" after being with me. Apparently I have a big spiritual gift of welcoming/hospitality/inclusion. Part of it is just how I was raised, experiences growing up. I never really felt accepted or welcomed all throughout school and for part of university. Because of those experiences and pain, I try extra hard to make sure other people do not go through what I did.
Here's a challenge/point of view. We are made in God's Image right? Are we all the same image or are we different? Obviously different. So couldn't it be that there are certain aspects of God and his character that we can only see through different people. And if we don't get to know them, and exclude them from our lives, then we can miss out seeing God in a different way. That's one of the reasons why I love to get to know people. They have unique experiences, different world views, different cultures, and all of those things can challenge you, inform you, give you new ideas. So for people that don't like to get to know new people. Couldn't you at least get to know God through the people? And maybe then wouldn't getting to know people become. I don't know. FUN? Maybe it is just me?
Right now we are doing something called At-Home days. I'm about to start cooking dinner for a progressive dinner even! The whole base comes together for the week and just hangs out. We stop whatever ministries/jobs we are doing (That we can) and spend time together every morning worshiping/prophesying over one another. There are many people on base I do not know, or never see. And this is a time to put God first, ask him what he wants us to do, and get to know everyone on base. It has been great to just relax and be with people all the time. The worship times have been fantastic, the teachings are great, and the food is sooooooooooo goooooooooooooood. And then on saturday we do outreach to local missions and help out either ministries that have started from YWAM Harpenden, or just other ways we can bless the communities.
That is all I have for now! Time to go cook a Full English Breakfast. For dinner. Yum. 2 weeks til my Pappy comes! YES!!
So the DTS Network Meeting was at YWAM The King's Lodge (http://thekingslodge.com/). It was a fantastic base and many other UK YWAM bases were there as well. I got to see a lot of old friends, meet new friends, and strengthen the relationships between YWAM bases. The first night was just a social night and get to know each other night. The next couple of days we had someone talk about sexual identity. It was fantastic. We talked about all sorts of things. How do you react if someone wants to share something with you while you mentor and disciple people? What things does the Bible say about sex? homosexuality? masturbation? sex outside of marriage? etc. It was very informative and very refreshing to hear Christians talk about sex and not feel embarrassed or ashamed. I mean, didn't God kind of, like, invent sex? So why is it taboo to talk about or mention in the church? Also why are we encouraged to share if I struggle with lying, or being judgmental yet when we bring up lust, sex, pornography, masturbation, we are told "hush" dont bring that up. If we hide it, it disappears right? RIGHT?! Noooot really. So I encourage everyone reading this to talk to one another when you struggle with these things. There is no shame in admitting you need help somewhere. I have struggled with pornography, lust, and masturbation my whole life. I mean. I have been single for 23 years. Of course I'm frustrated. Yet growing up my whole life I felt as if I couldn't talk to people about it. I felt as if there was something wrong with me because it looked like NO ONE else struggled with this since it wasn't talked about. There wasn't sermons on it. We didn't go over it at youth group or during devotionals. It wasn't until recently I realized most guys have struggled with this or still do. And the more we talk about it and confess/confide in one another, the more likely other people will be to say when they are struggling.
The September DTS starts up soon. Hurrah! We have gotten quite a few new staff for that school, along with a lot of other random staff for the base. I have a new flat mate! Andrew, from Georgia. It has been really cool to get to know him and show him English culture since he has never been to England, or Europe even! (Just like a certain sister I have, although she has been to Mexico and I haven't) There are some new DTS staff, IT staff, Kitchen staff, and just a lot more people. I love it. Maybe it is because I'm an extrovert. Maybe because I just love people. I have had multiple people tell me recently that they immediately felt like "part of the family" after being with me. Apparently I have a big spiritual gift of welcoming/hospitality/inclusion. Part of it is just how I was raised, experiences growing up. I never really felt accepted or welcomed all throughout school and for part of university. Because of those experiences and pain, I try extra hard to make sure other people do not go through what I did.
Here's a challenge/point of view. We are made in God's Image right? Are we all the same image or are we different? Obviously different. So couldn't it be that there are certain aspects of God and his character that we can only see through different people. And if we don't get to know them, and exclude them from our lives, then we can miss out seeing God in a different way. That's one of the reasons why I love to get to know people. They have unique experiences, different world views, different cultures, and all of those things can challenge you, inform you, give you new ideas. So for people that don't like to get to know new people. Couldn't you at least get to know God through the people? And maybe then wouldn't getting to know people become. I don't know. FUN? Maybe it is just me?
Right now we are doing something called At-Home days. I'm about to start cooking dinner for a progressive dinner even! The whole base comes together for the week and just hangs out. We stop whatever ministries/jobs we are doing (That we can) and spend time together every morning worshiping/prophesying over one another. There are many people on base I do not know, or never see. And this is a time to put God first, ask him what he wants us to do, and get to know everyone on base. It has been great to just relax and be with people all the time. The worship times have been fantastic, the teachings are great, and the food is sooooooooooo goooooooooooooood. And then on saturday we do outreach to local missions and help out either ministries that have started from YWAM Harpenden, or just other ways we can bless the communities.
That is all I have for now! Time to go cook a Full English Breakfast. For dinner. Yum. 2 weeks til my Pappy comes! YES!!
Best blog post I have ever read. Hands down.
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